More than 1,200 people expected to attend the event, which is being held at the Yucatán International Convention Centre
Representatives from the global banana industry including researchers, growers, exporters and government officials have gathered in Mérida, Yucatán, for the 25th Acorbat / 10th Corbana International Meeting, which gets underway on Tuesday.
The event, which was expected to attract more than 1,200 people from over 40 countries, is a unique forum designed to exchange key knowledge and develop solutions to the biggest technical, scientific, and commercial challenges facing the sector.
It has established itself as a strategic platform for analysing the present and future of banana cultivation in a context marked by phytosanitary challenges, sustainability demands, and rapid technological innovation.
One of the key themes shaping the congress agenda and generating significant international interest is biosecurity. International experts will analyse strategies for the prevention, monitoring, detection, and management of phytosanitary risks.
One of the priority topics will be Fusarium Tropical Race 4, which is currently the focus of industry attention due to its potential impact on food security, international trade, and the economic sustainability of thousands of producers.
Dr Rafael Segura, director of research at Corbana and vice president of Acorbat, commented: “Renowned researchers will come to present the most recent information available on the fungus that causes this disease, which threatens the banana industry”.
During the event, management, containment, and prevention strategies will also be addressed for other problems that the banana sector faces daily, such as Black Sigatoka and Moko disease.
The event will facilitate the exchange of high-level knowledge through keynote addresses, technical talks, and scientific poster presentations, promoting research-based solutions that will strengthen the competitiveness of the banana sector worldwide.
The Congress also includes spaces dedicated to innovation. “For example, in the area of technology, we will delve into the integration of artificial intelligence into banana production processes, as a tool that can make systems more efficient, more sustainable, and more productive,” Segura explained.
The event also includes a trade fair offering a meeting point to learn about technologies, inputs, and services related to banana cultivation.
Simultaneously, a business matchmaking event will be held, designed to facilitate strategic meetings between supplier companies, producers, exporters, and sector organisations, fostering commercial alliances and new international investment opportunities.
